Verse 3-23, Verse 3-24 – Bhagavad Gita

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रित: \| मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: \|\| 23\|\| उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् \| सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमा: प्रजा: \|\| 24\|\|

“If I am not carefully engaged in action without pause, men will follow my path in every way, O Arjuna! If I stop performing actions, all these worlds would perish. I would be responsible for the pandemonium and destruction of the world”.

Commentary

Without any pause, God is continuously engaged in working for the welfare of all beings in the world. If He remains inactive, then all the people will follow the same path to destruction. Therefore God and his divine emissaries set an example by working continuously to uphold the laws of Dharma. Following in the divine footsteps, many great people remain alert and active in the world with good and noble actions. History has recorded the lives of many sages, leaders, prophets and ideal householders who have worked for a righteous cause.

God is working very carefully (‘atandritah’) and so everyone should be careful and alert too. If God, who is eternally free, is so watchful in performing His duties, how much more vigilant should the common man be in disciplining his senses and act properly! Delusion can easily knock out a person if he is not careful. Therefore it is important not be negligent in performing duties.